Former Tiger Jonathan Byrd Wins Buy.com Event

Clemson, SC-- Former Clemson All-American Jonathan Byrd won the
Buy.com tour's Charity Pro-Am at the Cliffs in Traveler's Rest, SC on
Sunday. Byrd, who graduated from Clemson last August and was
playing in just his third career Buy.com event, shot a 66 on Sunday
to win the event by one shot.

Byrd fired a 269 for his four days, registering rounds of
67-70-66-66 in recording an 18-under-par score. He defeated Brenden
Pappas by one shot, while Sonny Skinner and third-round leader Matt
Peterson finished at 16-under-par, two shots in back of Byrd.

Byrd entered the final round tied for sixth place, trailing
Peterson by three shots. But, the native of Columbia played the
first six holes on Sunday in four-under-par and took the lead with an
eagle on the sixth hole. He shot a four-under-par 32 on the
frontside at the Cliffs Valley Course.

A key to Byrd's victory was the par four 10th hole. He hit
his drive to the left into a fairway bunker. He hit his approach
shot left of the green, but it got a great kick off a hill and rolled
to within five feet of the hole. He made the birdie to move to
17-under-par.

Twice on the backside Byrd had three-putt bogeys on par
threes, then followed those holes with birdies. He had birdies on 16
and 17 to clinch the victory.

"The eagle on the sixth hole was certainly important," said
Byrd, who remains the only four-time first-team All-ACC golfer in
Clemson history. "I was trying to make birdies all day, you have to
on this tour or you will be left in the dust."

Byrd had an army of followers on Sunday, including the
current Clemson golf team and former Tigers Chris Patton, Julian
Taylor and Charles Warren. Warren served as an on-course commentator
for The Golf Channel.

"It meant a lot to have so many friends following me today.
I hadn't met Chris Patton but a couple of times. To have him follow
me and talk with me during the round shows you what a close family we
have at Clemson."

It was a true family day for Byrd. His father, a former
football player at North Carolina, served as his caddie on Saturday
and Sunday. His mother was also among the gallery.

Byrd won 90,000 for his victory and moved from 71st on the
tour's money list to fourth. He is now fully exempt for the rest of
this year and next year if needed. He is the fourth different former
Clemson golfer to win a buy.com event. Other winners have been Chris
Patton, Kevin Johnson and Clarence Rose. Johnson, now on the PGA
Tour, was a three-time winner on the buy.com tour.

Byrd is one of the most decorated athletes in Clemson
history. A two-time IPTAY Athlete of the Year Award winner, he
earned academic All-America and on the course All-America as a junior
and senior. He is the only athlete in Clemson history earn those
honors in the same year, twice. Rising senior football player Kyle
Young can join him next year. Byrd is third on Clemson's career
stroke average list, trailing only John Engler and Lucas Glover, who
were both in attendance to watch Byrd's victory on Sunday.